My all-time cricketing hero is Douglas Robert Jardine, England’s greatest ever captain and winner of the most controversial test series of all time – the Bodyline rubber of 1932-33.
Despite being born in the 1970’s and having never seen him play, the image of DRJ, resplendent in his Harlequin cap is one that I was drawn to from an early age. And when I read about how he tamed the great Bradman and regained the Ashes in the face of overwhelming intimidation, I was hooked for life.
Here is why Jardine is one of our heroes:
England’s greatest captain
"If ever there was a cricket match between England and the rest of the world, and the fate of England depended upon the result, I would pick Jardine as England Captain every time" Pelham Warner
First and foremost, Jardine was an excellent captain. Ruthless and uncompromising, yes; but he was also a brilliant strategist and leader of men. DRJ knew that to regain the Ashes in 1932-33, he needed a plan to nullify Bradman. Leg theory had been around for sometime, but DRJ believed that with the extreme pace of Larwood and Voce and the bouncy Australian wickets, it would be a potent mixture and the basis for victory.
And it worked. Even though Bradman still averaged a tick over 50, Englanddominated the series and won easily 4-1. A combination of the fallout from the ‘Bodyline’ series and Jardine’s status as an amateur meant that he only captained England 15 times (won 9, lost 1, drew 5), but he should be revered as England’s finest captain and certainly it’s first with a fully professional attitude.
Despite the Australian harping at the time about the unfairness of it all, I expect that most of them respect the ruthlessness and win at all costs attitude of DRJ. These attributes certainly shone through in some of their best skippers: Ian Chappell, Richie Benaud and Steve Waugh.
And how was Jardine respected by his men? Perhaps the best epitaph came from W.E.Bowes
“To me and every member of the 1932-33 MCC side in Australia, Douglas Jardine was the greatest captain England ever had. A great fighter, a grand friend and an unforgiving enemy”.
A man of Empire and a bygone age
Just like Churchill and Wellington, Jardine always struck me as a true hero of the Empire – an era when people were proud to be British, even if at times were maybe a little over arrogant to the Dominions. As a firm believer in the British Empireand as a Wykehamist and Oxford Blue, plus his haughty demeanour and harlequin cap, Jardine was always going to get up the noses of Australians.
He made two trips there for the MCC (as a batsman in 1928-29, he played a crucial role in the 4-1 success of APF Chapman’s team), and he certainly played his part as the pantomime villain. There are many quotes attributed to him about his dislike of all things Australian, but my favourite two have to be “All Australians are an unruly and uneducated mob”, and also after being told that “They don’t seem to like you very much over here Mr Jardine”, DRJ responded bluntly “The feeling is fucking mutual”. As a ten year old boy, I found that very funny. And indeed, as a thirty-something I still find it funny, despite the fact that I spent some of my happiest times in Australia and have many antipodean friends.
"Leave our flies alone, Jardine! They're the only flamin' friends you've got here!" Australian spectator
I tend to think that Jardine exaggerated his supposed dislike of Australians and role as the villain of the peace, in order to take the pressure off his side. If that was the case, it worked handsomely.
Stubbornness and being unrepentant – two admirable traits
In his book “In Quest of the Ashes”, DRJ showed no remorse and no regret. And I love that. In this day and age, people are always apologising for things that they are not really sorry for. Is it not better to stand up for what you believe and stick by it? DRJ felt he had done nothing wrong, not broken any rules and done what he had been asked to do by the MCC – namely bring back The Ashes. Why should he apologise?
Thankfully, his legacy and stature seems to grow as time goes by especially as winning the Ashes in Australia is not something England have done with regularity before or since Jardine’s triumph. Unfortunately, the man himself died in 1958 without the knighthood and reverence his exploits deserved.
And he was a fine player to boot…
“He was a great batsman - how great I do not think we quite appreciated at the time” Sir Jack Hobbs
It tends to get overlooked how great a batsman Jardine was. Although he only scored one test century, he averaged a healthy 48 from his 22 tests. Again his amateur status and the fact that unlike some of his contemporaries he couldn’t afford not to work; meant that he didn’t play as many tests as his talent justified.
His one test century truly showed the mettle of the man. It came against a West Indian side bowling bodyline against him, which reinforced Jardine’s belief that a strong and resolute batsman could play and prosper against this type of bowling – a final dig at Bradman, perhaps?
Where next?
Read all the latest from our Ashes 2010/11 coverage
Still the greatest captain England has ever had. Read one aussie on a similar site saying how he despised Jardine, who had no doubt died before that particular aussie was born. He put a scar on the history of Australian cricket, and the legend of Bradman that has lasted 80 years!. And he was loved by the guys who played under him - something Bradman never managed. Tactically, he was so far ahead of his time it is staggering. The 2005 side all got royal gongs. Posthumous knighthood for jardine i say!
Posted by: Simagin | Sunday, December 05, 2010 at 13:37
Hear, hear a posthomous knighthood is the least the the Establishment owes Jardine. They could give one to Larwood as well whilst theyre at it.
Posted by: The Reverse Sweep | Monday, December 06, 2010 at 11:06
Interesting to listen to ian chappell on the 'bodyline' affair,taking into account that he was cheerleading the crowd chanting 'kill kill kill' in 74. Will be interesting to see if Ponting suggests to the selectors that he should be dropped after his 0 and 9 in the 2110 adalaide test, in the same way jardine did in 32/3.
Gubby Allen got an mbe, for being a self interested, public school, old schol tie politician, and handing back the ashes for PR purposes. Personally, I would rather have jardine and larwood on my side - at least i would know they actually WERE on my side, not on their own!! Know who the aussies would rather have on their side too. High time the mcc respected winners, and not just 'very nice' losers. Jardine always lead from the front, and deserved much better than he received. Truely great captain.
Posted by: simagin | Tuesday, December 07, 2010 at 16:42
Strangely enough I had just written a blog about Jardine when I found yours (whilst looking for a suitable illustration). Mine is here:
http://mairibheag.blogspot.com/2010/12/well-bowled-harold.html
By and large I think we come to similar conclusions. I called him a "man-of-steel".
Complete cricket-dyke here. Comes of having a cricket fanatic for a father! :)
Posted by: Marie Marshall | Wednesday, December 29, 2010 at 16:31
I enjoyed reading your post on Jardine, Marie - definitely my favourite cricketer of all time
Posted by: The Reverse Sweep | Friday, December 31, 2010 at 06:41